Grapevine

Take back power

? Years ago, the Public Service Commission allowed power companies to split the bill into delivery and supply, purportedly to get competition for supply. That did not happen until recently, but our delivery bills have been steadily going up since. This is a for-profit business that can pass on losses and bad decisions to the customer while maintaining high stockholder dividends and corporate pay. As a local monopoly, it can do what regular business can't. Let's take back the power.

Ethanol

? Ethanol in our gas is a big boondoggle forced down our throats by big business. Research and arithmetic shows it takes almost a gallon of petrofuel to create a gallon of ethanol, including fertilizers, sprays, equipment fuels and processing. We would not increase gas use without ethanol, because it lowers mileage, yielding a net loss in relation to the oil saved. It was the massive agrobusinesses like ConAgra, ADM and Monsanto that pushed for the EPA requirement, which the EPA did not want.

Who cares?

? I am sick to death of hearing about Mitt Romney and his tax returns. Let's talk about some issue.

Unemployment

? The Bureau of Labor Statistics announced the unemployment rate went down to 7.8 in September, lower than the previous 44 months. Some 114,000 new jobs were created in September, a slow but steady improvement. A feeling of things looking up can be felt while walking around Berlin and seeing jammed restaurants and shops. Ocean City was crowded all summer, and people are still enjoying the Boardwalk, beaches and businesses. There is a feeling of returning prosperity in the fall air.

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Grapevine

Years ago, the Public Service Commission allowed power companies to split the bill into delivery and supply, purportedly to get competition for supply. That did not happen until recently, but our